The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-05
ANOTHER GREAT GAS WELL
Further Drilling at Greenfield Brings
Terrific Outburst of Fuel.
Great Excitement Caused by the Fortunate
Discovery-Capitalists Trying to Secure
the Well to Supply Indianapolis.

The enthusiasm OF GreenHelQ CITIZENS was
somewhat quoted Tuesday night by dissen-
sions as to the feasibility Of sinking their we'll
deeper The popular opinion that well
enough ought to be left alone. Others, how
ever, favored drilling further into Trenton rock,
Notwithstanding the attendant risk of striking
salt water. The directors, by vote of four to
three, decided to make the experiment. and yes
terday morning at o'clock the drill sent
cautiously down through two feet ard half of
Trenton rock. AT that depth-999 feet and 6
inches from the surface-a terrific outburst
OF gas sent granulated Trenton rock and part
of the drilling instruments whizzing out of the
well. The CONSERVATION spread among the dl-
rectors and a score of other bystanders and sent
them scramblng. The president of the COM
pany. Mr.. II. b. Thayer. was SO entangled In the
debris that he was with considerable difficulty
extricsted.
By the exertions of five workmep. five and
hve-eighths' inch pipe was attached to the mouth
OF the well and laid along the ground into an
adjoining field curious calf, approach
ing to examine the source of the roar
which issued from the pipe Immediately
turned three somersaults, and after getting
itself together sought the remotest corner of the
field. From four-inch upright pipe, attached
to the horizontal pipe, the lighted gas famed
twenty five feet Crowds of excited Greenfield
people were soon on the ground and stockholders
were busy calculating the profit in furnishing
gas for all time to 200 Indianapolis factories and
5000 dwellings The afternoon trains brought
many gas enthusiasts and real estate spectators.
The former were pleased, but not so the latter,
for real estate alues had advanced over night
from rural To metropolitan proportions One
irate metropolitan was seen il the afternoon
lot at $l,1OO. which he had refused in the
morning at $500. Options on property were
freely bought, and by evening two real es-
tate firms had been organized. The boom is in
deed on at Greenfield.
In the evening the crowd at the we'll was null
tiplied in numbers and enthusiasm. Among
others present was n representative Of the Stand
ard Oil Company named Brewster He was
heard making critical inquiries of the workmen
as to the nature of the WE'LL Afterwards he ap-
preached several of the directors, asking them
TO name their selling price. None given.
and the directors assert that they have no inten-
tion of selling
The we'll has been sunk by the Greenfield
Natural-gas Company, of which Messrs. H. B.
Thayer, DR. 8 s. Boots j. M Huickman, j.
Baldwin, j. Hauck, E. Teiner and j. w.
Carter are the directors. The contract let
TO W. Fl. Porter & Co., gas well diggers of Lima,
o. The site, which is within the corporation
limits and about three-quarters of mile from
the depot, was selected as being the highest land
on q stream in the vicinity-two qualifications
essential
One hundred feet from Trenton rock gas was
struck in Utica shale At that time four-foot
blaze issued from a oneinch pipe On Tuesday
evening, when the drill had been sunk twelve
feet in Trenton rock the gas blazed fifteen feet
through two pipes of oneand a-ouarter-iuch
width. The acquisition. therefore, by yesterday
mornings additional drilling somewhat more
than as much again of gas Mr.. Porter sunk the
well at Anderson, aud the smaller at
Noblesvie. lie pronounces the Green
field well superior either of these. and
superior in quality to the Vain wright we'll. The
gas is indeed excellent in quality burning
steadily and being of white color, easier to the
eyes thar the ordinary natural gas. The
Standard on representative said to Journal
reporter: . is the finest illuminating natural
gas ever saw. The tests of the pressure so far
made have satisfied the excited citizens of
Greenfield, but have hardly been scietifc in
their accuracy. They have consisted throw
ing into the pipe missiles ranging from buzzard
dollar to a stone of hen's-egg size and noticing
that they were promptly returned. The well will
be anchored" to-day and the pressure deter
mined. 1t is thought by many that the drilling
should be continued, but the directors not
disposed to hazard any further experiments
The company propose to furnish gas free to all
manufacturers. but they will probably not have
the opportunity. the Council of Greenfield
last night received generally signed petition
asking that the city authorities construct a free
we'll for the sole use Of factories. committee
appointed to the take immediate steps look
ing to the fulfillment of this scheme.
An excursion under he auspices of the Fourth
Presbyterian Church will be run to Greenfield to
see the well Friday evening, leaving the
depot over the Panhandle at 6:45.
Talk About the Indianapolis Projects.
The Greenfield success has been hardly less
reassurne to the Indianapolis companies than
the Brightwood well, aud they are now pushing
their work rapidly and hopefully. 1t is est
mated that the Broad Ripple driers will reach
Trenton rock on Saturday. They now work
ing in shale $50 feet below the surface.
The Capital City Company have by no means
abandoned the Brghtwood WELL and at their
meeting tonight will consider the feasibility
of filing it to depth of
of 1000 feet and Shooting at that
point. 1t is now admitted that serious mistake
made in drilling the last 200 feet. The com
pany is making arrangements to sink we'll
the Wolf farm, one and half mile northeast
of Brightwood. Another well will soon be be-
gun similar distance from Mr.. VOLTS farm
and in the same direction.
AZ Twelfth street the refractory drill still re-
mains at the bottom of the we'll If the efforts
for its recovery continue Intellectual another
well will be sunk in the same neighborhood.
About the streets the talk is generally favora-
BILE TO the policy of cautlousness which the Coun-
Gil is pursuing. There are those, however, who
think that delay is dangerous, and that the
Standard company should Immediately be in
vited to come into the city. One Of these said
and he speaks with authority: IF there are
Indianapolis citizens who want to invest 81 0OO-
900 in a gamble then the proposition of the
Standard company may well be dalled with.
otherwise not, for 1 know that me Standard
folks intend investing their capital in the smaller
cities unless they are given fair terms In Indian
apolis, and hatpromptly'
Mayor Denny states that he will call the spe-
cial committee naturalgas ordinances to-
gether next Tuesday, which is as soon as it can
be DONE because the Board of Aldermen does
not meet to appoint its part of the committee
until Monday night. A subcommittee will
probably be selected TO visit such cities may
be thought important between that time and the
next meeting of the Council In the meantime
Mayor Denny Is writing to various cities for
copies of their ordinances. that by the time
the committee meets to prepare ordinance or
amend the one now pending they will have ali
the information possible
Gentlemen from the smaller towns in which
gas has been found report great fright among
the spectators when gas was struck at Bright
wood. There was almost a stampede to unload
and get to Indianapolis.
The Most Effective Well Shooter
An explosive known as nitro glyceriue paste is